Report: Saudi Arabia sentences man for spying

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (AP) — A state-backed Saudi news website says a resident of Jordan has been sentenced to nine years in prison and 80 lashes for spying on the kingdom for Israel.

Al-Riyadh Online reported Wednesday that Saudi Arabia's Specialized Criminal Court issued the verdict after the man confessed to spying for Israel. The court said in its verdict that the man, whose name and nationality were not released, had emailed Israeli intelligence officers and accepted money in exchange for spying.

The news website says the prosecution and defendant plan to appeal the sentence. The defendant was quoted as telling the court that he was under the influence of drugs and not in a right state of mind when he accepted spying for Israel.